Minutes of the Parish Council Meeting.

Held on Wednesday 2^nd July 2008.

Cllrs M. Doody (Chair), R. Merry (Vice Chair), V. Baker, J. Bernard, B. Bottomer,

L. Bullock and J. Merry.

Mrs J. Lee - Chase Post.

Mr and Mrs R. Elphick, Cannock Road.

Mr Matthews - Great Wyrley.

PC 4558 D. Cooper and Inspector Matt Derrick.

Clerk, Mr R. Smythe.

There were no announcements.

Mr R. Elphick from Cannock Road attended the meeting to speak about the grass verges on the Cannock Road. He said that the installation of the kicking rails had made it impossible for mowers to be used and the cutting had been made more labour intensive as the cutting now had to be done using strimmers or by the residents.

He had been told by the County Council that when the footpath was reinstated, there would be a slurry seal to provide a uniform appearance, but grass was already growing through and he and his neighbour regularly had 3" (8cm) of lying water. It was agreed to report this to the County Council.

Inspector Derrick confirmed that it was an offence to drive across footpaths and park on verges these offences could be dealt with by way of fixed penalty but he would prefer if drivers would use common-sense and park appropriately.

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Cllr B. Bottomer reported that he had attended a District Council Estate Walk in Wimblebury and noted that the drains were not regularly maintained and this was contributing to blockages and the potential for flooding.

PC Cooper reported that a local public nuisance, Russell Samuels, was on court bail for breaching his Anti Social Behaviour Order. It was reported that he was continuing to accost people and beg and PC Cooper asked for witnesses to come forward and make statements. It was also reported that a burglary in Newlands Court, Heath Hayes had been cleared following an admission from a person in custody.

The Council discussed recent sensationalised comments in the local press about alleged crime in Heath Hayes and shopkeepers and members of the public were distressed about these inaccurate comments. There was crime in the area, but lower than most areas and diminishing and it was unforgivable that a misleading article could be published that unnecessarily frightened elderly residents in the area and stopping them shopping locally.

This could affect the quality of life of residents and the viability of local businesses, as well as unnecessarily demonising local youths and unjustly denigrating the police. The improvements in the area were mainly due to police activity and to have all this damaged by misleading statements in the press was not only irresponsible, but could also cause disaffected youths to cause problems.

Inspector Derrick said that policing in the area had been undermined by ignorant comments and the facts were that crime in Heath Hayes and Wimblebury was down 9% over 2 years. Burglaries down 23%, Damage down 24 %, Assaults down 14%, Drugs down 30%, Theft down 14%, Theft from Motor Vehicles down 10%. These facts were in the public domain and could and should have been checked prior to publication.

With a 15,000 population, this area had 709 crimes in 07/08, compared with 1,492 for Chadsmoor with a smaller population. There were 337 calls for anti social behaviour compared with 1,200 for Chadsmoor.

He said that the figures were encouraging but there was no room for complacency. He hoped that the recent sensationalist reports would not discourage people from leaving their houses, especially during the evening as crime prevention was a community issue and more people out and about assisted natural surveillance.

Inspector Derrick said that this was a very pleasant and safe area to live, there were generally higher incomes, nice houses and streets. He said that PC Cooper was successful and working exceptionally hard and another PCSO had just been appointed bringing the strength to three.

PC Cooper thanked the Council for their continuing help and support and he said he was disappointed with the inaccurate and unhelpful claims about crime in the local press.

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Inspector Derrick said that the position with Speedwatch, there had been no convictions, as the scheme was just meant as a visual deterrent and to gather information. There had however, been a positive impact.

There was concern expressed about the speed of vehicles on the Hednesford Road, Heath Hayes and it was agreed to consider installing a metrocount to record speeds and to check on vehicles that might be using the road in contravention of the 7.5 tonne weight restriction. PCSO Hickman was working with Mr Mark Keeling from the Highways Agency on this very issue. It was also agreed to site the Camera Safety Van on Hednesford Road and Wimblebury Road to determine vehicle speeds.

Inspector Derrick agreed to investigate "Boy Racers" using Heath Way, Heath Hayes for high-speed runs and other nuisances such as noise pollution on the Tescos Car Park. Members of the public were encouraged to forward information about registrations or descriptions of vehicles.

The Council thanked Inspector Derrick and PC Cooper for attending the meeting and commended them and their colleagues for the excellent work that they were doing in the area. The Council fully supported the police and agreed to write to the Chief Constable to confirm this support and appreciation.

The meeting began at 8.10pm.

Apologies were received and accepted from Cllrs A. Bernard, I. Carr, D. Todd & R. Todd.

Cllr L. Bullock - Cannock Chase Planning Control Committee (Item 5 and Item 12).

Approval of the minutes was proposed, seconded and agreed.

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There were no matters arising.

• 08/280 - 88 Salisbury Drive, Heath Hayes - Two storey and single storey side extension and conservatory to rear.

• 08/288 - 14 Ingestre Close, Heath Hayes - First storey extension over exiting garage.

• 08/296 - South Staffs Acrobatics, Unit 11, Advance Business Park, Burdock Close, Hawks Green - Variation of condition 3 to increase opening hours to 7am to 9pm, Monday to Friday.

• 08/318 - 46 Watermint Close, Heath Hayes - Conservatory to rear.

• 08/321 - 39 Elder Close, Heath Hayes - Single storey rear extension and two storey side extension incorporating garage.

The Council had no objections to the above applications.

• 08/303 - 24 Badgers Way, Heath Hayes - First floor and two storey side extension (Resubmission of 08/100).

The Council objected to this application as it was excessive and an overintensive development that would adversely affect the quality of life of neighbouring residents.

It was also agreed to write to the District Council to ask that if planning application 08/273 - 156 Hednesford Road, Heath Hayes for an amusement arcade was to proceed, as recommended by the officers, then there should be a condition of restrictive hours.

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The Council noted the approval of the following applications;

• 08/82 - Land at rear of 101 Gorsemoor Road, Heath Hayes - Residential development of two, two-bedroomed semi-detached dwellings (previously 07/748).

• 08/237 - 10 Denbury Close, Heath Hayes - Extension to existing rear conservatory.

• 08/239 - Tesco Store, Heath Way, Heath Hayes - Construction of a lobby extension to the main entrance.

The Council noted the withdrawal of the following application.

• 08/225 - 39 Elder Close, Heath Hayes - Single storey extension and conservatory to rear and two storey side incorporating garage.

The Clerk's Report was noted, with the following additional comments.

It was reported that the report about the parking outside 9 and 11 Boston Close had not yet been received. It was agreed to contact the District Council and to forward the information to Mr Hill.

It was agreed to wait for any further developments and to authorise the Chair to promise up to £500 towards a scheme, as long as the benefit would be for the young people in this area and good value.

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Cllr L. Bullock reported that he had attended a meeting of the Wimblebury Community Centre Management Committee where a variety of ideas for the forthcoming year were discussed, including promoting greater use of the Centre.

There was to be a full review of charges and hire rates and a business plan was being developed and he was satisfied with the progress being made. One meeting room has been fully refurbished and the Coal Industry Social Welfare Organisation and the Staffordshire Environmental Fund were being approached to assist with funding a new kitchen and drains.

It was reported that there had been a Management Committee meeting prior to the Council meeting and it was agreed to circulate the minutes.

It was reported that there had been a Management Committee meeting after the Council meeting and it was agreed to circulate the minutes.

It was reported that there had again been no developments and it was agreed to remove this subject from the agenda and to report upon any developments as and when the occurred.

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It was reported that there had been no information received from the County Council about the following;

Cllr L. Bullock declared an interest as a member of the Planning Control Committee and took no further part.

It was reported that a letter had been delivered to Mr Thompson on 25^th June giving him two weeks, until 9^th July, to apologise and issue a letter of retraction. Nothing had yet been received.

In the letter, the Council provided evidence to prove that following, which were false claims by Mr Colin Thompson of Wimblebury;

• That no money had been received or promised from Harworth Power or UK Coal to the Council. The Council had confirmed this in writing, as had Harworth Power. Copies of audited accounts had been provided to Mr Thompson and the information was on our website.

• The Council had not bribed St John's Church and had not given the Church £8,000. The Council had confirmed this in writing, as had St John's Church. The claim to have seen this on our website was false as no such information had ever been posted. Copies of audited accounts had been provided to Mr Thompson and the information was on our website.

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• Mr Thompson's claim that we were not audited was false. The Council is audited and provided copies of letters from District Audit for this year and the preceding two to prove this. He claims to have been told that we were not audited by the Information Officer at the District Council, but Mr Philip Lloyd-Williams confirmed that calls are recorded and there is no trace of Mr Thompson calling, nor any request for such information.

• Mr Thompson claimed to have contacted the Parish Council about financial dealing and had no reply. This is false and Mr Thompson was invited to provide any evidence he had for such an outrageous claim. In any case, the information is on our website.

It was agreed to see if Mr Thompson would keep his word and retract his comments and to consider further action after 9^th July, including holding an extraordinary meeting if necessary.

It was noted that County Councillor Drinkwater had also written to The Chronicle to disassociate the Bleakhouse Wind Farm Action Group (BWFAG) from Mr Thompson and to call his comments scurrilous and unfounded. It was hoped that now Mr Thompson's claims had been refuted by the Parish Council, St John's Church, Harworth Power and the Chair of the BWFAG, that he would retract his comments.

The Council was also disappointed that The Chronicle had not followed the Press Complaints Commission Code of Conduct in checking the veracity of allegations prior to publication.

The list of incoming post was noted.

The list of outgoing post, numbered 180 to 206/07 was noted.

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The cheques, listed in Appendix A were presented for payment. Authority to pay the expenditure totalling £8,110.63, was proposed by Cllr J. Bernard, seconded by Cllr B. Bottomer and agreed. Income of £3.54 (Bank Interest) was noted.

15.1 Cllr R. Merry reported that Reverend Daniel was leaving the Bourne Methodist Church and he was asked to thank him for his service.

15.2 Cllr R. Merry reported that Mr Phil Smith, who chairs the Social Services Committee, had been taken ill. It was agreed to send a Get Well card.

15.3 Cllr B. Bottomer reported that the "Source" Youth Club at Hednesford Pentecostal Church was thriving and he asked for youth provision in the area to be included on the next agenda.

15.4 Cllr R. Merry reported that a tree had been removed from the grassed area between Brampton Drive and Boston Close, Heath Hayes. It was agreed to check the legitimacy of the operation.

The next meeting would be on Wednesday 3^rd September 2008. Cllr M. Doody thanked those present for their attendance and declared the meeting closed at 8.50pm.

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